Coronation Street legend Sue Nicholls gushes about iconic co-star she ‘loves to death’
Coronation Street icon Sue Nicholls, who has played Audrey Roberts for 45 years, has spoken out about her time on the show and love for co-star Helen Worth.
The actress, 80, first appeared on the cobbles in 1979 and joined the regular cast six years later.
During her time on the show she’s been a councillor and Lady Mayoress, dealt with the dealings of serial killer son-in-law Richard Hillman (Brian Capron) and more recently, similar goings on with her own son Stephen Reid (Todd Boyce).
Her endearing relationship with corner shop owner Alf Roberts (Brian Mosley) is still well remembered 25 years on since his death.
In a rare interview with Sharon Marshall on ITV’s This Morning yesterday (13th March), Sue spoke of how her role as Gail’s floozy mum was only meant to be short: ‘I was asked to come for a week and soon after that I was asked to come back’ she explained.
‘There was no question of “no thank you” because I’d had such a ball all that first week.’
Despite playing mother and daughter, there’s only a seven year age gap between the two actresses.
‘I love her to death, I love doing scenes with her. When we fall out [on screen] we don’t fall out, it’s just a true family thing that happens in life.’
![FROM ITV STRICT EMBARGO - No Use Before 0001hrs Wednesday 11th October 2023 Coronation Street - Ep 1108182 Wednesday 11th October 2023 As Stephen Reid [TODD BOYCE] leaves his flat he is attacked by Peter Barlow [CHRIS GASCOYNE] but Audrey Roberts [SUE NICHOLLS] arrives and sends Peter packing. Stephen???s relief turns to horror when Audrey accuses him of stealing her house. How will Stephen respond? Picture contact - David.crook@itv.com Photographer - Danielle Baguley This photograph is (C) ITV and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SEI_175424859-e8dd.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&zoom=1&resize=540%2C373)
Through her work on the ITV soap, Sue met her husband Mark Eden, famed for his role as dastardly Alan Bradley, who was famously killed by a Blackpool tram in 1989 after tormenting Rita Fairclough (Barbara Knox).
Following his death in 2021, aged 92, she finds comfort in her work family: ‘Coronation Street is now my life’ she said.
‘I find it easy to come here, I love the people I work with. I love what they give me to do, and I want it to go on.’
Within recent years, Audrey has shocked her family by overdosing on medication, had her grandsons Nick (Ben Price) and David (Jack P. Shepherd) steal £80,000 from her life savings and reconnected with conman Lewis Archer (Nigel Havers).
She’s at home with a pair of scissors inside of Audrey’s salon, a staple of the show’s 7.7 acre production site in Trafford, Greater Manchester – and long may her blue rinses continue!